CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - A TOAST TO POOR CHOICES

Emma sipped her latte, savoring the rich flavor as she listened to James recount a hilarious mishap from his college days. His honey-brown eyes sparkled with mirth, and Emma found herself laughing more freely than she had in weeks. "So there I was, sheet music scattered across the stage, my bow tie hanging at a ridiculous angle, and the entire audience in stunned silence," James chuckled. "That's when I decided architecture might be a safer career path." Emma wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Oh James, that's priceless. I can just picture it." As their laughter subsided, a comfortable silence fell between them. Emma's phone buzzed again, and she glanced at it guiltily. James noticed her hesitation. "Everything okay?" Emma sighed, putting her phone away. "Just... complicated. Family stuff, you know?" James nodded sympathetically. "Want to talk about it? Sometimes an outsider's perspective can help." Emma hesitated, then found herself pouring out the story of her cousin